Rains to boost rabi crops, but will dampen ongoing harvesting of potato

NEW DELHI: Widespread rains across the country will boost the standing rabi crops, particularly wheat, chana, barley and mustard, but will dampen prospects of cumin and coriander and ongoing harvesting of potato in parts of Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

"The rains are good for the wheat crop, largely those sown in the non irrigated belts of Himachal Pradesh, Uttrakhand, Punjab, Haryana and Rajastha,"said Indu Sharma, director of the Karnal-based Directorate of Wheat Research. She added that most of the crop has not come to the boot stage (when the grain head emerges) so there was no major damage to the crop owing to the rains. Incidences of partial lodging in Punjab and Rajasthan have been reported in areas that saw hailstorm and rain accompanied with fast winds. Surveys by the state agriculture departments to assess the losses are currently being carried. Agriculturist and scientist are also concerned over the spread of the fungal diseaseyellow rust on the wheat crop. In Punjab, till now the disease has spread on 400-500 acres and in Haryana on over 30 acres.

"Cool wet weather is conducive for the spread of yellow rust and farmers are being advised to regularly monitor the crop," said Punjab agriculture director Mangal Singh. The February contract of wheat on the NCDEX on Friday was firm by 0.94% at Rs 1,610 per quintal with an open interest of 390 lots. However, chana April contract remained bearish ahead of peak arrivals by 1% at Rs 3458 per quintal with an open interest of 70,360 lots.

Traders expect chana prices to remain stable this year with an anticipation of a good crop. "The harvesting has begun and the rains will help the late sown crop," said K CBhartiya, chairman emeritus, India Pulses and Grain Association.However, the rains could slightly impact the coriander and cumin crops in parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan.